Petro is the better choice for GOP bid for governor

In the highly charged race for the Republican nomination for governor in the May 2 primary, Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro and Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell do agree on one thing: The state's anemic economy is in need of a major transfusion. But they disagree on the course of action to put the state on the road to recovery.
After carefully analyzing each candidate's economic plan, we believe Petro has developed a strategy that is not only realistic, but will achieve its goals without major disruption.
That, along with his wide-ranging experience in government and his willingness to rock the boat, if necessary, make Petro the preferred choice for the Republican nomination. We endorse his candidacy in the primary.
Our decision was also influenced by a recent event that bears explaining.
Two weeks before Blackwell met with Vindicator editors and writers to make his case for the newspaper's endorsement, Youngstown State University President David Sweet sat in the same chair and gave us something to think about.
While outlining the future employment status of John Habat, vice president for administration and finance, Dr. Sweet said that Habat's first assignment while he works from his Cleveland-area home will be to assess the impact of Blackwell's plan to limit the growth of state and local government spending.
The YSU president said that Ohio's public universities and colleges could lose at least $400 million a year in state funding if the secretary of state's Tax Expenditure Limitation Amendment is approved by the voters in the November general election.
According to Blackwell, state and local government spending would not be allowed to grow more than 3.5 percent or the sum of inflation plus population growth, whichever is greater. The limit would be waved in an emergency. Voters would have to approve any attempt by officeholders to exceed the spending limits.
While there is something attractive about forcing public officials to become better stewards of the public treasury, Blackwell's plan is like an economic minefield. There's no telling what the next step will bring.
Therein lies our objection to Blackwell's candidacy for the GOP nomination for governor. With his education, Wall Street background and local and state government experience we would have expected a more responsible plan for dealing with Ohio's very real economic problems.
Ohio Turnpike
But it isn't only TEL that gives us pause. The secretary of state's proposal to lease the Ohio Turnpike to a private company for 99 years is the kind of solution that one would expect from a less serious candidate.
Our interview with Blackwell did not satisfactorily address the concerns expressed by Sweet.
Ohio is at a crossroads and whoever is governor on Jan. 1, 2007, will have to deal with the very real problems of a significant loss in high-paying manufacturing jobs, the uncertain future of the automotive industry, an unconstitutional funding system for public schools, decreasing state support for higher education and the state's late entry in the high-technology sweepstakes.
We believe that Ohio Attorney General Petro has the proper mix of qualifications, experience and vision to make an effective chief executive.
His economic plan, in contrast to Blackwell's, is founded on the belief that consolidation of state government is the necessary first step in giving taxpayers the biggest bang for the buck. He would push to reduce the number of state agencies from 23 to nine and reduce state positions through attrition and retirement incentives.
The $1 billion or more Petro contends would be saved will be reinvested in higher education tuition buy-downs and tax reform.
Medicaid costs
Other priorities established by Petro include: Cutting the costs of Medicaid; accelerating and expanding tax reform; investing in education; creating a system of higher education that eliminates duplication of post-graduate degrees and increases the number of two-year colleges; and creating jobs by focusing on a knowledge-based economy.
An objective evaluation of both candidates leads to one conclusion: Petro should be the Republican Party's standardbearer in the November general election.